Alex Formenton retires from hockey amidst Hockey Canada scandal

Alex Formenton, one of five former NHL players involved in the 2018 Hockey Canada case, has been given the green light to skip his pretrial hearings in exchange for retiring from hockey altogether.

A judge granted permission for Alex Formenton and four other former NHLers-Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote-to miss these hearings due to «compelling economic reasons.» The case dates back to an incident on June 19, 2018, following a Hockey Canada Foundation event.

The hearings are focused on determining which evidence will be allowed at trial.

Justice Bruce Thomas ruled that Formenton could skip 29 days of court proceedings, which will cover legal arguments about evidence. He has chose to plead not guilty and opted for a jury trial scheduled to start in September 2025.

Since the charges were filed in early 2022, these players have faced setbacks in their NHL careers. Formenton, for instance, has shifted to working in construction and now resides in Barrie, Ontario. The court acknowledged that this was a significant concession to why he was exempted. Formenton was a second round pick by the Ottawa Senators in 2017, but didn't become an NHL regular until 2022. He was playing in Switzerland last year before taking a leave of absence due to the scandal.

The waive also expedites the legal process. Although the 24 year-old not required to attend pretrial sessions, he has agreed to be present for his trial. If necessary, the court can revisit his need to attend future proceedings.

Source: House of HockeyCharged Team Canada WJC scandal player Alex Formenton officially retires from hockey at 24

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